Former Member of Parliament for Dormaa East, Hon. Paul A. Twum-Barimah, has described the tragic incident at the El-Wak Sports Stadium – which claimed the lives of 6 young people during a military recruitment exercise – as a painful reflection of the alarming youth unemployment situation in Ghana.
In a heartfelt Social Media post, the former legislator extended his condolences to the bereaved families, noting that six of the victims were young women who lost their lives in their quest to serve the nation as military officers.
“Their unfortunate death should serve as a constant reminder of the stark reality of the alarming unemployment situation in the country, which requires a concerted approach to tackle,” – Hon. Twum-Barimah said.
The tragedy occurred when a massive crowd of jobseekers gathered at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra for a recruitment exercise into the Ghana Armed Forces. Witnesses reported that overcrowding and poor crowd control led to chaos, resulting in several people being injured and at least 6 fatalities.
The incident has reignited public concern over the country’s growing youth unemployment crisis, as thousands of graduates continue to struggle to find jobs. Social commentators and labour experts have called on government to implement more sustainable employment initiatives to curb the desperation that drives many young people to such recruitment exercises.
Hon. Twum-Barimah urged policymakers, corporate Ghana, and development partners to work together to create meaningful opportunities for the youth. He further emphasized that the deaths at El-Wak must not be in vain but rather serve as a turning point for national reflection and action.
“May their souls rest in peace,” he concluded solemnly.
By Ebenezer Madugu
